For a decade, NWF has partnered with its state affiliate, the Association of Northwest Steelheaders, and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife to support schools through the Fish Eggs to Fry program. From this collaboration came the development of Eco-Schools U.S. Salmon Stewards, which, since 2015, has engaged 25 schools (and assisted dozens more) to foster Chinook salmon eggs in classroom aquariums before releasing them as young fry into local watersheds of the Lower Columbia River Basin. Through lifecycle learning, water quality testing, stewardship projects, and gaining knowledge of the cultural relevance of salmon to Native and Indigenous Peoples, students became true “Salmon Stewards.” This year, four elementary schools from North Clackamas School District near Portland, OR earned Eco-Schools U.S. certification and released 2,300 Chinook salmon fry into local watersheds.
Photo Credit: Morgan Parks